Woodrow Wilson Keeble

Master Sergeant Woodrow Wilson Keeble, a soldier in the U.S. Army, was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for gallantry on October 20, 1951 at Hill 765, near Sangsan-ni, Korea during the Korean War. At the time he was serving with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division. Keeble was 34 years old.

The medal was presented on March 3, 2008, 56 years after the action — the White House by President George W. Bush.

Keeble was born on May 16, 1917 in Waubay, Day County, South Dakota. His Medal of Honor is credited to North Dakota. Keeble died on January 28, 1982 in South Dakota, at the age of 64. He is buried at Lake Transverse Indian Reservation Cemetery in Sisseton, South Dakota.

Keeble is one of 153 Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean War and one of 19 credited to North Dakota.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Master Sergeant Woodrow W. Keeble distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepedity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Sangsan-ni, Korea on 20 October 1951. On that day, Master Sergeant Keeble was an acting platoon leader for the support platoon in Company G, 19th Infantry, in the attack on Hill 765, a steep and rugged position that was well defended by the enemy. Leading the support platoon, Master Sergeant Keeble saw that the attacking elements had become pinned down on the slope by heavy enemy fire from three well-fortified and strategically placed enemy positions. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Master Sergeant Keeble dashed forward and joined the pinned-down platton. Then, hugging the ground, Master Sergeant Keeble crawled forward alone until he was in close proximity to one of the hostile machine-gun emplacements. Ignoring the heavy fire that the crew trained on him, Master Sergeant Keeble activated a grenade and threw it with great accuracy, successfully destroying the position. Continuing his one-man assault, he moved to the second enemy position and destroyed it with another grenade. Despite the fact that the enemy troops were now directing their firepower against him and unleashing a shower of grenades in a frantic attempt to stop his advance, he moved forward against the third hostile emplacement and skillfully neutralized the remaining enemy position. As his comrades moved forward to join him, Master Sergeant Keeble continued to direct accurate fire against nearby trenches, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. Inspired by his courage, Company G successfully moved forward and seized its important objective. The exraordinary courage, selfless service, and devotion to duty displayed that day by Master Sergeant Keeble was an inspiration to all around him and reflected great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

How he died

Awarded posthumously — died January 28, 1982.
Manner of death: natural causes
Cause of death: stroke
Age at death: 64
Resting place: Lake Transverse Indian Reservation Cemetery

Cause and manner of death: Wikidata.

Other decorations and honors

Besides the Medal of Honor, Woodrow Wilson Keeble received:

Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart

Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War II, Korean War.

Places

Born: Waubay — map
Died: Sisseton — map
Buried: Sisseton Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in North Dakota →

Timeline

May 16, 1917
Born in Waubay, Day County, South Dakota
October 20, 1951
Act of valor — Hill 765, near Sangsan-ni, Korea
Age 34. Company G, 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division
January 28, 1982
Died in South Dakota
Age 64.
March 3, 2008
Medal of Honor presented posthumously
The White House by President George W. Bush
Resting place
Lake Transverse Indian Reservation Cemetery
Sisseton, South Dakota

Biography

Woodrow Wilson Keeble (May 16, 1917 – January 28, 1982) was a United States Army National Guard combat veteran of both World War II and the Korean War. In 2008, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions during the Korean War. He was a member of the people of the Lake Traverse Reservation, a federally recognized tribe of Dakota people. On March 3, 2008, following a long campaign by his family and the congressional delegations of both North and South Dakota, President George W. Bush posthumously awarded Keeble the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on October 20, 1951, in the Korean War.

From the Wikipedia article “Woodrow W. Keeble”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →